Take a couple of minutes to write down the things that are annoying, frustrating or (dare I day it) stressing you today - that's List 1. Having done that, do exactly the same thing - List 2 - for what was annoying you (etc.) on the 27th October 2011... this second exercise won't take you long - you won't be able to remember! Now, finally, tear up List 1... all things pass and, mostly, more easily when you're less anxious about them.

Frustration and annoyance seem to be part and parcel of our everyday existence. So-called low-level background stress runs in our veins. These "conditions" - that our own automated minds impose upon ourselves - are, slowly but surely, ever so gently, killing us. You may notice it from time to time - your body may tell you that you feel exhausted, sick to the stomach, you might even have the odd palpitation but, you'll say to yourself, it's just part and parcel of the modern condition - life in the medium to fast lane!

The World Health Organization in Geneva is pretty straight-talking when it comes to this so-called low-level background stress... it confirms that it's upping your blood pressure, increasing your heart-rate, suppressing your immune and digestive systems and coating the inside of your arteries with bad cholesterol... it's leading you inexorably towards a premature grave, whilst dulling the joy of living along the way.

And, as I say, you're doing it to yourself. If you're frustrated today, if you're annoyed or irritable, it has nothing to do with what's going on around you, it's all got to do with what's going on inside your own, sad, head. We choose to be annoyed or frustrated by what we think about what's going on - not what's actually going on. And this choice that you and I make, moment-to-moment, is killing us.

It gets even more bizarre though. Because what you're annoyed about now will, if you remember it down the road, probably be a funny story, a laughing matter... assuming that you remember what was annoying you today at all! The side show that is today's minor irritation is like all bad TV shows, it will be cancelled... it will pass. Everything passes.

So, instead of tying yourself up in life-diminishing knots by the nonsense of today - nonsense that is often caused by other crazy people - let it pass. Do what you have to do to get to where you want to go and let all the other nonsense roll off you - like water off a duck's back. You'll feel better, you'll be better, you'll get more (of the good stuff) done, you'll move more effortlessly towards your goals, you'll enjoy the ride and, it's kind of important too, you'll prolong your happy and healthy life.

What could you learn in one day that might change your life? Well, for starters, you'd learn how to avoid anxiety, annoyance, frustration, worry and (even) stress - and you might just experience reality. And, once you've experienced reality, anything - truly anything - is possible. I've a couple of places still available for The Psychology of Succes in Dublin on May 10th... find out more here...